Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] On this episode of Cox Talking Gamecocks, a full Palmetto bowl preview, women's basketball heads out to Vegas and a special Thanksgiving six pack of picks. Okay, here we.
[00:00:55] Okay.
[00:00:56] Welcome to episode 358 of Cox Talking Gamecocks. I am your host, Tim Cox, where I will keep every episode from 1801 to 2001. Hope y' all had a lovely, lovely Thanksgiving. Gamecock Nation. Hope y' all ate and drank your fill listening to this probably on a Friday, maybe still eating some leftovers and things like that. Turkey sandwiches, absolutely. Things that we love to see and partake in, whether it be sitting and watching football, watching the movie marathon, just simply not getting off your couch or if you are into the turkey trot, if that's your thing.
[00:01:36] I hope you had a fantastic time and are ready for a big time weekend of Carolina sports here, the weekend we all look forward to most. It's rivalry weekend, the conclusion of Clemson Hate week, and my goodness, I am just raring to go here. I'm saying all this before I have the tryptophan in me and things like that. Recording a little bit earlier in the week because of holiday travel and things like that, but nonetheless, absolutely jazzed up, ready to rock. Got the plan set for Saturday and it's a tradition unlike any other roping family members who maybe otherwise don't care about sports, into sitting down and watching me sweat and live and die with every play for three, three and a half hours that Saturday.
[00:02:22] But all right, let's jump in here. Not a lot to go over this week, obviously, Thanksgiving break and things like that to take into account the women's basketball team. They are playing DU Las Vegas. As I am recording this, I kind of only touched on this last episode and I do apologize for glancing over this. That game in Vegas is part of the players era Las Vegas championship. So one of those instances where you're getting a few teams together and having them battle it out. This is with some elite programs here. So after Duke, the team will play either UCLA or Texas. That, of course, would depend on how our matchup goes and then the matchup in that one. So nonetheless, a really good opportunity for Don Staley's team to see where they're at compared to some of these teams, but to prepare as well. You know, we've seen this payoff in the past with Don scheduling out of conference opponents like you saw the fake USC and then being part of instances and tournaments like these. And it's just, you know, iron sharpens iron, right? So going to be really cool to see how that goes and really excited for them going out to Las Vegas. I mean, anytime I hear that I'm jealous of whoever that is.
[00:03:40] And then on Friday, the men's basketball team will be taking on Charleston Southern, hopefully looking to get on the right side of things again, get that winning feeling back and improve on some of the deficiencies that we saw the last two games. But hopefully the guys are able to handle business there. Side note, on Charleston Southern, I don't know about y', all. Maybe I'm just in way too deep with Carolina Sports. But anytime I see Charleston Southern, I think of that football game and I want to say it was Ryan Holinski's first start and we put up, I think, legitimately, 70 points that game and it was just entirely too easy. But yeah, anytime I see Charleston Southern, I think of that game plus or minus Holinski here. But nonetheless, talking about a current football team, current program with a lot going on right now, talking about Gamecock football here. Quick news of the last couple of days here. Jeremiah Donati, athletic director, confirmed that Shane Beamer will be back in 2026. So I don't think this is incredibly shocking news. Obviously, there's been some discussions given how this season has gone.
[00:04:49] I think there were still some folks thinking that maybe if things don't go right this Saturday, he could be out. But I think the general consensus was like, hey, there's still things that are going right with the program when you talk about team culture and recruiting and things of that nature. And he has to correct a couple of things on the offensive side, most notably the offensive coordinator. And the hope is going to be to get that corrected and be back and winning at a high level next year. But I don't think it's going out on the limb to say that he's going into next year on the hot seat, right? Or at least his seat being warm. So nonetheless, though, I think that allows the recruits to know who they'll be playing for next year. It allows some stability with the current roster and things like that. So, yeah, Shane Beamer will be back in 2026. But more about the task at hand here this weekend. The Carolina Clemson game, the Palmetto bowl, whatever you want to call is here. It is the culmination of all the season's work, of all of our energy, taking it to your rival for all of it this one Saturday, kicking off at noon here in Willie B.
[00:06:07] The stakes might be lower than some other years right on both sides, but bragging Rights in this state are the highest of stakes really.
[00:06:19] So this game will have everyone's full attention, like playoff aspirations and every aspiration, like be damned, like you want that. Because on the table for South Carolina is ending what otherwise would be a down year with momentum and positivity. That will help with recruiting and boost morale in that locker room as we head into an aforementioned very critical offseason.
[00:06:46] Some other storylines that I'm paying attention to include the cautiously optimistic progression of the offense and Lenora Sellers. And I think that's a great way to describe these last couple of weeks here. I think Furry has a chance to make a strong case for becoming the full time coordinator if the offense continues to puts up points and yards and wins, you know, win singular this weekend. But also, do we see Lenoris continue to. What I'm, what I'm calling is, does he continue to wake from his Shula slumber? Because since Shula has been out, he has been aggressive both on the air and through the ground.
[00:07:33] Scratch that. On the ground and through the air. There you go. But I think Furry has sort of unleash them a little bit more because sitting at 4 and 7, the Gamecocks really are going out there playing for pride and for purpose. Carolina is currently sitting at a three and a half point favorite, which is exciting. The game opened up at two and a half in favor of Carolina. Things are moving a little bit to the Gamecock, so someone out there feels confident in us and you know, you're at home, obviously that helps. So in front of those folks, our fans, as a favorite, playing frankly, some of the best football of the year, the last two one and a half games. Right.
[00:08:18] Ultimately the question is, what are you going to do with it? Which leads me to my crows to the game here. So overall for the team, leave no doubt, okay?
[00:08:29] This game is not of a reflection of how the season went, okay?
[00:08:37] We know this team has talent and we know that they have the know how to hang with the top teams in the country. And that's, that's not to say that Clemson is a top team in the country because they're not. But you know that we have the dudes to play at a very high level. Right? So go out there Saturday afternoon and leave no doubt that you gave 100% of the effort and have us fans leaving Saturday afternoon with a smile on our face and saying that we have another year's worth of bragging rights and another year's worth of pride. And really that positivity going into the off season. Because it does mean a lot. It means a lot for a lot of people.
[00:09:22] And if we're talking about just the progression of the program, like, you can look at a down year that ends on the right note and try and carry some of that with recruiting or the portal and things like that to say, hey, look like, yeah, maybe this season didn't go how we wanted to, but look how we ended and if we had a player like you on this team, well, maybe we wouldn't have been in that position in the first place type of deal. And then especially as we talk about Shane Beamer, who's going to make an enormous decision, an enormous hire with his oc, anyone wants to see positivity, right? And if they say, all right, this team was hanging in there and they fought hard, they're clearly playing for their coach and playing for each other, I want to go to a place like that.
[00:10:09] Now on offense, my first crow to the game is Lenores has to continue to be aggressive against Coastal. We saw Lenores fighting for those extra yards and buying extra time to convert touchdowns.
[00:10:22] I don't expect him to have as much running room as he got against Coastal or as he got against Clemson last year, but when those opportunities come up, he has to take advantage to the fullest and also be aggressive in the red zone to find six points.
[00:10:40] My second crow on the offense here is continue to mix in unique looks. In both the A and M and Coastal games, Mike Furry brought out some unique plays and different formations that we really hadn't seen much prior.
[00:10:54] Now, not only does that make things difficult to execute against, but it can catch Clemson off guard.
[00:11:00] So we don't need to overdo it, right? I'm not saying reinvent the wheel, but a few wrinkles at the right time could go a long way.
[00:11:10] My third crota to game, stick with the hot hand at running back. This has been a little bit of a frustration for me, and I know it's been a frustration out there for some of y', all, too, but too many times we've seen a certain running back get off to a good start in a game and then they get lost in the rotation.
[00:11:30] That can't happen this game. Okay? Like, there's nothing to hold back for. Can't hold anything back.
[00:11:37] Whether it is Fuller or Howell Faison or Attaway, if they start well or if they have a couple of good drives, stick with them.
[00:11:47] You know, you can go back to the LSU game with Matt Fuller. You can look at A and M with Jaron Howell, you know, like, be stubborn with some of these guys. And it's okay if you're looking at a guy like Howell and just sticking with him. You know, I fear that for some reason the staff says, hey, we have Sewell atop the depth chart and we got to stick it with that way. Like, not this game. You know, if you got someone cutting up what should be a pretty stout defensive front for Clemson, you got to stick with the hot hand. And then we've seen it time and time again, and I've talked about it at nauseam. That helps Lenoris a ton if he can feel confident that he has a running back who can do that. And it takes pressure off him. It takes the eyes off him.
[00:12:39] So whoever gets hot, stick with them.
[00:12:43] Looking at the defense now, my defense, first crow here is defensive line has to be disruptive. Clemson is dealing with injuries along their offensive line, so these guys have to take advantage. This group has looked good over the last couple of games. And then you get Stewie coming back healthy after he took last week off. They need to be a constant factor. You know, I mean, we. You look back at some of these highlights of Clowney just having Taj Boyd in hell or last year, for the most part, Cade just being off his game.
[00:13:17] That's what we need from this defensive line. Like, Stewie has been disruptive, but he's getting a ton of attention, which has opened up things for Brian Thomas. You've seen Des have flashes, you've seen gear have flashes. And then in that defensive tackle room, you've seen Barrett Goodwine, Gabe Brown, Modindi. Like, some of these dudes have had good second halfs of the year. Some of them had good years, right? Brian Thomas.
[00:13:43] So continue to be disruptive. And I think the word there is constant, right? Like, if you disrupt him in the first half, find ways to get after it in the second half. Don't let him have a second.
[00:13:57] My second crow to the game here is the defensive backfield has to be elite. Clemson has playmakers on the outside. You know, guys like Antonio Williams and whatnot. They can make life difficult for any defense. Carolina has the dudes to hang with them and we have to be locked down.
[00:14:15] My third crow is force Cade into a mistake. That was the ultimate nail in the coffin last year. So simply put, let's do it again.
[00:14:24] Wouldn't that be lovely? But I honestly, I would like this game to be in hand before Clemson has a chance to do something in their last drive. But whether we're talking force him to Throw a pick or force him to fumble. If he's running it, just make him make a mistake, right? Like, find a way to get him off his game.
[00:14:44] He is not elite. Like, they want to believe he's having a very average year at best. He has thrown some interceptions, force him into a mistake. You know, like, some of these guys, they might be trying to overdo it, but if you can get to him early, it can pay dividends down the line.
[00:15:05] So overall, for the game, again, this team has a chance to end the season the right way and without diving into the depths of this year and where it went sideways and all that jazz. Like, at the end of the day, if you can look back at a season and say, you beat Clemson, it's a pretty good year. And I know there's going to be folks out there who say there's. That's loser talk and things like that. Like, it's never loser talk to say you want to beat your rival. I'm sorry. Like, not in. Especially not in this rivalry, not in this state, and especially when you have a down year, there's nothing you can do. We can't go backwards. I'm not going to want the team to keep losing.
[00:15:48] It can make.
[00:15:50] It can make the end of the year and the entire season feel a little bit better. To say, hey, you know what?
[00:15:57] You ended the season on a high note.
[00:16:00] Finally capitalize on it. Like, take the momentum that you got. And kudos to you and kudos to this team for getting it together, coming together, even when there was some adversity and still getting it done, getting it done for us. This would be a win for everyone in that locker room, but everyone in the stands, too, who has been through a lot of the downs this year. So it's a fantastic opportunity, and I think a win here would go a long way. They have.
[00:16:27] They have a chance to prove to not just us, because we know some of this, but to fans of the sport in general that there is still positivity in this program and that these guys didn't quit and that they believe in each other and they believe in Shane Beamer and the culture is strong.
[00:16:48] That's really what I think there's a chance to do with a win Saturday.
[00:16:53] I think we have the better team. I think we are the healthier team. I think we have more energy in our program, in our locker room, and this game is at home. And I absolutely love that, you know, like, through thick and thin, the Gamecocks have shown up this year at Willie B. And I think the Coastal game shows you that.
[00:17:14] And it's always a weird mix at these games where you're gonna have, like, a notable amount of Clemson fans. But whatever, screw them.
[00:17:23] Like, make it our house.
[00:17:25] Prove that it is a difficult place to play.
[00:17:29] You know, like, we fought hard and Willie B.
[00:17:32] Didn't go our way all the time this year. But it's still our house, and it's still a place that is when it is rocking, it's incredible. And people are gonna be up for this game. And if you can get out and score some points early and keep the fans in it, like, oh, look out, that place is gonna be a party.
[00:17:53] It's just.
[00:17:54] It's weird to see the season come to a close in. In so many ways. I know I've talked about the season, like, needing to turn the page, but it's weird to see it come to a close. But we have a chance to close it the right way way. So let's take care of it. Let's go.
[00:18:11] Keep an eye on my socials for all the Clemson Hayden previews and things like that. But before I go, let me give y' all a holiday special three pack. So we're not overindulging here. We're keeping it responsible this holiday season. And it's just Black Friday rivalry week games are just absolutely incredible. So really quick here. Give me Texas A and M minus 2 1/2 versus Texas, Nebraska Moneyline versus Iowa, and then Georgia at Georgia Tech under 59.5. But with that, that wraps up this episode. Please follow me on social media, Twitter or X is Cox Gamecox. Instagram is just the name of the show. Cox Talking Gamecocks. And please, like, subscribe and review the podcast. I appreciate all y'. All Go Cox.
